It's Better To Be Safe Than Sorry With Travel Plans

May 08, 1988|by TOM LOWRY, The Morning Call

In the wake of last week's alleged defrauding of a group of women bowlers by an Easton travel agent, officials say there are measures travelers can take to protect themselves against rip-offs, including asking a few basic questions before handing over any money.

To be safe, it's best to check out an agency with the state Consumer Protection Bureau, the Better Business Bureau and local chambers of commerce before entering into a deal, said Mike Butler, director of the Allentown office of the Consumer Protection Bureau.

"Beyond that, there's not much else you can do," he said, adding that trade associations also provide information about their members.

Although travel agents in Pennsylvania are not required to be licensed and bonded, consumers can ask whether an agent is certified and bonded with the airlines, a requirement before the airlines will issue tickets to the agents.

According to the Airline Reporting Corp., Paul Ruch, owner of Ruch and Feldman Inc. of Easton, was not certified with the airlines. Ruch last weekend allegedly ran off with more than $33,000 paid to him by the Easton Women's Bowling Association for a trip to Reno, Nev. Although Ruch made flight reservations for the more than 100 bowlers, he apparently never paid the airlines for the tickets.

The tickets were issued by the All World Travel agency in Easton, a former employer of Ruch's, bowlers say. All World Travel is certified with ARC but it's not clear what relationship All World Travel had with Ruch and Feldman. Betty Boswell, president of All World Travel, would not comment on the matter.

Ruch has not been seen or heard from since last week, say investigators, who admit they have few leads regarding his whereabouts.

Ruch and Feldman maintained an office in Forks. Forks Township Police Chief Robert Krome said his investigation is at a standstill until he has a chance to interview more women bowlers, most of whom chose to pay for tickets again and follow through with their trip to Reno. They returned home last night.

James Narlesky, a Northampton County assistant district attorney, said he is investigating complaints from other groups about Ruch and expects a decision to be made on charges after he completes his interviews with them.

Butler said his bureau has received phone calls about Ruch but that no official complaint has been filed.

The trip's organizer, Edna Morris, said he was contacted April 28 by Ruch, who told her he was filing for bankruptcy but that the bowlers could pick up their tickets at All World Travel. A spokeswoman for federal bankruptcy court in Philadelphia said there is no record of Ruch filing for bankruptcy.

A travel agent who knew Ruch but who wished to remain anonymous, said: "He was a very likeable person . . . an outgoing man who was really good with trips. He didn't seem to be a bad sort at all."

Said Morris: "He's always done our trips. We've never had a problem. He was always a meticulous man." When asked what she thought happened with Ruch in this instance, Morris said, "I don't know. That's what I can't wait to find out."

Often in these situations, Butler said, the actions by a business aren't calculated but based on poor management, placing the owner in a desperate situation.

Incidents like the one involving Ruch give all travel agents a bad name, said Patricia Campbell, chairman of the Association of Retail Travel Agents with 4,000 members nationally. "The real travel agents are the ones certified with ARC," said Campbell, who runs an agency in Northridge, Calif. "Often tour promoters deceive customers into thinking they are travel agents."

Before an agency can become certified with ARC - a clearing house for travel agency sales - the agency must show that one of its principals has had at least two years management experience in the field and must post at least a $20,000 bond. The bond requirement increases with the size of the travel agent's business.

The bond is only a protective measure for the airlines, not the consumer, but Campbell said consumers can feel more comfortable with an agency that meets ARC criteria. About 95 percent of the country's 30,000 travel agents are certified with ARC, which provides agencies with the ticket stock to sell to the public.

"These tour promoters (like Ruch) are giving travel agents a black eye," said Campbell. "You must find out about the business before you hand over the money. Unfortunately, it's sort of a buyer's beware market."

Campbell said it's a "Catch-22" for established travel agents, who would like to see tighter restrictions to weed out the bad agents but wouldn't be able to post the bonds that would inevitably be required under such statewide restrictions.

Very few states require that travel agents be bonded. California has been working on some kind of regulatory system for a while, Campbell said, adding she would prefer requiring people without ARC certification to register with the state instead of instituting across-the-board bonding.